I've been reading over the specs for this camera and have liked what I've read (considering dumping all my DSLR gear and going medium format film only). Has anyone here used one before?

That camera makes the RB67 look like a point and shoot lol. Looks like it would fun to use and I heard the lenses are amazing

I would need a Sherpa for sure

I have looked at them longingly for awhile, but I don't know anyone who has used one. Which begs the question, why did I respond?

I just thought I would add, don't dump your dslr. I have so many cameras now and different ones are good for different things. At the very least your dslr would be good for the family shots in the upcoming Christmas season.

My roommate had one of these for some time; he got really bored and sold it after a few weeks only. Big cameras are fun the first five minutes but you quickly get sick of the weight I think.

Posted by argonian I just thought I would add, don't dump your dslr. I have so many cameras now and different ones are good for different things. At the very least your dslr would be good for the family shots in the upcoming Christmas season.

The DSLR gear will be paying for the film gear.. and I can use a point and shoot to do fam shots.

Posted by baleze My roommate had one of these for some time; he got really bored and sold it after a few weeks only. Big cameras are fun the first five minutes but you quickly get sick of the weight I think.

Thinking about it more, your friend might have been on to something.

Though, now I'm considering a 4x5 field camera.

As much as that previous statement might not make much sense, I think you're right...

When the weight of your medium camera exceeds ten pounds, you might as well go for a 4x5.

Righto. And I can get a roll film back for the 4x5 anyway (likely to do to start). Having never shot with a 4x5 camera before, I'm looking forward to being a beginner again (if I end up with one.. still could go just medium format at this point).

Option #3: medium format field camera. I have a Linhof baby tech (Technika III with a 6x7 back) and it's amazing. It packs up fairly small (smaller than the Fuji would), it's lighter than an rb/rz (of course I could say the same about both of my bicycles), and the lenses are superb. You also get the advantage of most movements a 4x5 field camera would offer, it's really only lacking extreme rise at the wide angle end. Which changed in later models (the Master Technika), but they cost quite a bit more than the old ones.

Keep in mind that if you need to sell your digi gear to pay for the film gear, you probably won't shoot much with the 4x5. I state this from experience, having recently sold a 4x5 that I couldn't afford to shoot, considering three frames of Velvia cost about the same as a roll of 10 frames in 6x7 format of the same film. You might as well get something made for medium format, rather than a 120 back for a 4x5, since large format wide angle lenses that are still actually wide on 120 would be very expensive, and would require a separate bag bellows as well.

You have so much knowledge. I never really know what you are talking about, but I am always impressed.

Thanks, Mortimer.

Right now I'm looking at a Toyo 45CF, and a friend of a friend has a nice Busch Pressman for $350 (in excellent condition). The Toyo is definitely more expensive, but still under $1000 with a lens. I like that with a 4x5, I'll have the option of shooting MF if I like, or Polaroid.

The cost of film and developing isn't too much of a concern. I'm actually looking forward to taking FAR fewer photos when I go out. When I was in Europe earlier this year, I think I took about 800-900 shots and actually liked about 24. That's just sloppy. I want to focus my attention on taking better photos, and the restrictions of the format will help me in this.

A 90mm lens on a 4x5 is about a 26mm lens in 35mm terms.. That's plenty wide for what I need.

I'm going to rent a few different systems from Vistek and see what I like best.

Re: the 90mm lens - great for a 4x5, but the equivalent of around a 40mm on medium format. That's all I wanted to point out, that if you're planning on using a 4x5 regularly with a 120 back, you're going to lose your wide angle, or have to spend lots of cash to get a 65mm or even wider. Whereas a 65mm made for a medium format press camera is quite a bit cheaper (although unusable on 4x5). You probably know all that already, but it's worth emphasizing if you're actually planning to use a medium format back regularly.

FWIW, I'd pass on the Pressman. The movements are pretty limited, as are the number of lenses you can use, compared to the Toyo. Just my 2 cents.

I was leaning towards passing on it, actually. The price wasn't terrible, but it wouldn't give me the flexibility that I'm looking for. And if I get something like a Toyo, I know I have the Vistek rental department that I can make good use of.

Posted by yokes And if I get something like a Toyo, I know I have the Vistek rental department that I can make good use of.

Not to mention 2 out of 3 fine art/commercial photography grads that sell off their mandatory 4x5 gear the day after graduation.

Did you ever finish that scanner camera?

The scanner camera remains a work in progress. Recently realized that I bought a lens that won't work well. Hoping to get to it in December sometime. Finally bought a scanner for it, so that's a start.